The American Traditions Competition is a national competition featuring 32 incredible singers from a variety of backgrounds. They come to Savannah to compete for a $12000 grand prize and the Oxnard Gold Medal. For the competition, each singer must prepare 9 songs each in a different American music genre (ex. folk, musical theater, jazz, opera, art song, country, blues, etc). You cannot repeat a genre and each must be written by an American composer. The competition is in three rounds: Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals. Each singer performs a total of three songs in each set. They must impress the judges with their versatility, technique and artistry. Of the 32 singers, 12 move on to the Semifinals and only five move on to the Final round, held in the Lucas Theater in downtown Savannah.
Kimberly Hawkey, a resident of Dobbs Ferry, was the named the Winner of the 2013 Oxnard Gold Medal and even took home the coveted Johnny Mercer Award for her performance of the Mercer tune, “Goody Goody”.
The judges included Bob Dorough (songwriter for Schoolhouse Rock, Jazz musician), Anita Gillete (Moonstruck, Shall We Dance, 30 Rock), Rod Gilfry (Grammy nominated Baritone), Film Score Composer Don Davis (The Matrix), and voice instructor Michael Paul.
Kimberly and her accompanist Assaf Gleizner will be playing at Caffe Vivaldi on February 9th, 7:15 p.m., at 32 Jones street, in NYC.
